Budget Hearing wrapup: no questions were entertained from citizens

Paulk and Pritchard wrapped up the budget hearing, quite well, except at the very end, when about 2 seconds were allowed for citizens to say they wanted to speak before the hearing was ended. So that’s two budget hearings with no citizen input: the first one nobody knew about, and this one where nobody was permitted to speak.

Chairman Ashley Paulk thanked county employees for their cooperation. He noted that even the constitutional officers, who could appeal their budgets, had not. He noted the jail accounted for about half the sheriff’s budget, calling it an expensive operation. He said that his office had accounted for 3 of the 8 layoffs last time, and fortunately there were no more this time. He said:

“We’re in survival mode.”
He added that he didn’t expect the economy to turn up locally until construction did.

I think there are other ways to help the local economy, but I applaud a chairman-like summation by Chairman Paulk.

Here’s Part 1 of 2:


Budget Hearing wrapup: no questions were entertained from citizens Part 1 of 2:
Budget Hearing, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 28 June 2011.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.

County Manager Joe Pritchard informed the Commission that the new budget (presumably assuming it was approved at the immediately-following regular Commission meeting) would be on the county’s web pages by Friday. You can see videos of Budget Director Stephanie Black’s presentation now; follow that link for the detailed budget, which LAKE put on the LAKE web pages Monday.

Finally, Ashley Paulk asked for questions, and while Gretchen was cycling the camera off and on to get the first question, Chairman Paulk closed the meeting. Nobody managed to speak up in time.

Here’s Part 2 of 2:


Budget Hearing wrapup: no questions were entertained from citizens Part 2 of 2:
Budget Hearing, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 28 June 2011.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.

-jsq

One thought on “Budget Hearing wrapup: no questions were entertained from citizens”

  1. George Boston Rhynes

    Soon the people of South Georgia Will see that the old 1860 Valdosta City Chater Mentality is still in force but has been extended to all citiens. That is to keep all citizens deaf; dumb; and blind to what is really going on in South Georgia. But in the end truth, right and equal justice will most certainly win in the end as history always records! http://kvci.blogspot.com

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